We love the design of this colorful wooden shaker with big jingle bells attached.A charming rhythm instrument with a quiet but pleasing sound. Makes a nice gift to go along with some music to march or dance to. Also a perfect fit for a holiday stocking gift or one of many nights of Hanukkah or Kwanza.

Age: Preschool, Early School Years.
Award Year: 2014.
Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Great for keeping a beat and dancing to music you play. This is a sturdy little tambourine that is attractive with Eric Carle colors and design motifs. On the plus side, it is not overly noisy. Makes a nice gift to go along with some music to march or dance to. 3 & up.

A gaily painted wooden recorder that can be used to play real music, though most preschoolers will simply use it to explore the highs and lows they can play and perhaps pick out a simple tune. This is probably a better choice for slightly older kids, though it is marked like all the instruments in the collection for 3 & up.

A handsome colorful first guitar. This is not a toy, but a first instrument with a bright painted wooden body and six steel strings. The instrument does not come with music or instruction, though the company plans to put music on their website. This French company is new to American markets. They also make a ukulele and a neat xylophone. These are marked 3 and up, but more appropriate for older preschoolers and early school years children.

Age: Preschool, Early School Years, Later School Years.
Award Year: 2012.
Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

We were delighted to find that this beautiful line of French toys is now available in the US market. The music line is particularly welcomed. Most of the musical toys on the market in the past several years have had terrible tone. As Randy would say - way too "pitchy". This oversized wooden xylo is cheerfully designed in white with bold dots of color. Take a listen to the video so you can hear the lovely sound quality.

Toddlers will like the action of hitting the keys and making the color balls jump. But this poppin' piano goes way beyond that simple play mode. It is an electronic toy and has a load of built-in bells and whistles. As electronic toy pianos go, this one has pretty good sound. It plays a variety of instruments --piano, organ, harpsichord, synthesizer, and something called popping sounds. But you cannot go from one instrument to another without going to another activity and returning to the "choose an instrument" mode and then striking a different note on the keyboard. In other words, there is nothing easy about the choices. There are several modes, most well beyond the 12-36 month age group on the package. Mode one is a number drill with the audio telling children to hit the numerals on the big colorful keys. Mode two tells children the color of the key they are striking and makes a ball jump up. Another skill set that does not match the age group. There is another mode that plays premade music and kids can hit whatever notes they choose while the song is playing. Kids need to be in the instrument section to have free playtime. It has loud and soft volume settings.

SNAP: This child friendly keyboard will encourage children to use fine motor skills as well as giving them the powerful satisfaction of making music with a swipe of the hand.

Give these wooden painted maracas a shake. Painted in bug-like colors-red and black ladybug, yellow and black bumble bee, green and black grasshopper, these are smooth to the touch and have a good sound. Fun for keeping time with music or dancing time. 2 & up. The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab.

SNAP: Here's another way to enjoy music..keeping the beat. This is an entertaining way to build listening skills and encourage movement. These smooth maracas are smooth to the touch and appealing to the eye. Use them to motivate children to use their hands for gripping. To adapt, attach Velcro to the handles and to mitts that will help kids hold onto them. These will be enjoyed by kids with the mobility to dance as well as those who can participate in a wheelchair.

Designed for little hands, these two colorful maracas have pretty good sound values for keeping the beat. Each of them has a distinctive sound. These are another element in the new Basic Rhythms line that Step 2 created for toddlers, that will also be enjoyed by preschoolers.

The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab.

SNAP IDEAS: Put on some music and let the shaking begin. Whether they can dance or keep the beat while sitting on the floor, being able to make "music" is empowering to young children. These have chubby handles that may be easier to grasp than other musical rhythm instruments.

Unlike most musical toys for kids, the tone of this metal-chime xylophone is lovely. Can be played by number/color or musical notation. Can be enjoyed by a preschooler, but becomes a true musical instrument for older children--also reinforces reading from left to right. Mini version is less expensive, but is not as sweet sounding. That said, this is a pleasant travel take-along toy. Says 3 & up; we'd say 4–8.

The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab.

Age: Preschool, Early School Years, Later School Years.
Award Year: 1995.
Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Lynn Kleiner Rhythm Sets (Remo $24.95 Score:) Many instruments for young kids make noise instead of music and are basically unsafe. Strike up the rhythm band with these kits that are well crafted with sound and safety in mind. Babies Make Music includes jingle shaker, wrist jingle, and a small drum and scarf (safe enough for toddlers who still mouth their toys). 2 & up. Kids Make Music includes a 7" tambourine, triangle, wrist bell (with big jingles), rhythm sticks, and one maraca; Kids Make Music, Too has an 8" drum, scarf, finger cymbals, woodblock with mallet, and one egg shaker. 3 & up. SNAP Activity: Use drum or rhythm sticks for a math game. Make a stack of cards labeled with numbers 1-10. Put them face down. Player draws a card and taps that number. Other player must guess the number on your card. If she gets it, give her the card. At the end of the game switch parts. Now the other player does the reading and tapping. (800) 397-9378.